Photography of Southern California

Updated on September 1, 2016

Southern California may is often thought of as the land of palm trees, of which many are not indigenous, but it is also the land of beautiful mountains, desert landscapes, and urban forests. People here can be quite captivated by the clouds that float above the mountains like cotton candy while casting mile-long shadows on the valley below. Southern California is filled with many different types of terrains and microclimates and there is always great photo opportunity around the bend. As a Southern California native, I love to take pictures to share with you here in my hubs. One of the most beautiful areas in the Southern California is the San Bernardino Mountains, and it is the ideal place to hike on a late summer afternoon. When it rains down here in the Inland Valley, you can capture glorious views of clouds crowning the mountains above. This photo essay is intended for those who cannot travel to enjoy the beauty of all that Southern California has to offer, which is usually sunny weather more often than overcast days.

Hiking Around The San Bernardino Mountains

Here is a picture of The Pinnacles in the illustrious San Bernardino Mountains.

Bobby is a cat who loves to sit in beautiful gardens. She is a manx cat living in Southern California, and a pet I love very dearly. | Source

A beautiful shot looking down towards Hespera. | Source

Another picture looking out towards Hesperia, on the back side of the San Bernardino Mountains, which consist of high desert like terrain. | Source

The sky is beautiful in this image of the San Bernardino Mountains, which is looking down towards Hesperia. This picture was captured near Highway 173 on a late summer hike. | Source

Two small, yet inviting, boulders on a hike in the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

Another view Hesperia on our hike. | Source

A beautiful hollyhock growing in the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

My favorite hobby is hiking in the San Bernardino Mountains and taking photos during my jaunts, which is the place where I grew up. My niece and nephew have lots of fun hiking up there, and it is always fun to spend time with them in the great outdoors.

The Tranquility of The San Bernardino Mountains

Here is a picture I took looking out towards Mount Baldy in the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

Walking down the forest path. | Source

Another picture looking out towards Mount Baldy. | Source

Yet another picture looking out towards Mount Baldy, which is also known as Mount San Antonio. | Source

Walking Around The San Bernardino Mountains Out By The Pinnacles

The Pinnacles are an amazing ridge of boulder laden hills where people enjoy hiking or just enjoying the grandeur of the large rocks. I always enjoy taking picture of The Pinnacles, which I grew up seeing every day as a child.

Looking out towards The Pinnacles. | Source

One of the various chaparral filled hills near The Pinnacles. | Source

I immensely enjoyed this picture I took of an Eater egg I hid near a small stream. This stream is near the Pinnacles. | Source

Here is a beautiful small stream near the Pinnacles. | Source

An amazing formation of boulders out at The Pinnacles. | Source

Another picture of The Pinnacles with the blue sky and clouds abovie. | Source

Water trapped between boulders. | Source

A mesmerizing rock formation out by The Pinnacles. | Source

Look out past The Pinnacles. This is one of my favorite photographs, and it inspired one of my illustrations. | Source

The shadows made by clouds create beautiful images on the ground below. | Source

Another amazing boulder formation with chaparral brush growing up around it. | Source

Water near boulders. | Source

A stick that was carried to this location as the water coursed over the boulders. The creek was full after the winter snow storms, but the stick was left behind when the water evaporated. | Source

Here are a couple of short videos showing what the boulder formations look like out at the Pinnacles.

Cloudy Days In The Inland Valley

Cloudy days in the Inland Valley make for amazing photo opportunities, especially with other-worldly cloud formations over Mountain Baldy and Mount San Antonio region, such as I captured in early October of this year.

A dead palm tree near an orange field, with clouds in the sky. This is a very interesting Southern California image. | Source

Clouds in the sky after a rain storm in Southern California. | Source

The clouds above the Mount Baldy and Mount San Antonio region have various interesting shapes. | Source

Cloud formations above the Mount Baldy and Mount San Antonio region were quite exhilarating to photograph, and to see as I am walking.

Here the clouds make a billowy formation with a patch of blue showing through. | Source

Now I am moving on to the San Bernardino Mountains, and some photographs I took on cloudy days up there.

Looking out towards the Pinnacles. | Source

Fog in the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

More fog rolling in through the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

The fog continues to roll in through the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

Fog in the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

More fog in the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

An orange tinged sunset in the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

Brilliant colors of a sunset in the San Bernardino Mountains. | Source

Streaks of various shades of colors in the sky. | Source

At sunset the sky can look like a beautiful painting. | Source

The silhouette of the trees against the sunset. | Source

The mountains and the silhouette. | Source

The shadows of the trees at sunset. | Source

The streaks of orange and pink in the sunset sky. | Source

The pink colors of the sunset in the sky. | Source

The beauty of Southern California trees at sunset. | Source

The San Bernardino Mountains have beautiful sunsets, and it makes it so exhilarating to travel up there to see these after a day of hiking. I cannot afford to travel, and that is okay because there are so many beautiful sights to see locally. All I have to do it go to the local mountains to see a beautiful sunset.

Comments 24 comments

Sweetiepie, This was a treat before going to bed. I particularly liked the "Clouds in the sky after a rainstorm in Southern California'. The clouds seem so close to the earth in the photos, I liked this! And, your niece and nephew are cute; they look healthy and comfortable in the mountains.

Rated up!

erthfrend 6 years ago from Florida

I really enjoyed these beautiful photos! I just LOVE hiking and can really appreciate the beauty of nature! Thanks for sharing!

jcales 6 years ago

That's a lot of photos on my current slow connection. It's probably nicer up there; less or no smog. love getting away from the city and to friendlier small places on occasion.

Hello, hello, 6 years ago from London, UK

Your picture were so beautiful and gave me a complete different outlook of California.

KoffeeKlatch Gals 6 years ago from Sunny Florida

Southern California certainly is breath-taking. And the kids are adorable. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures.

I hope you have a nice trip the next time you come to Southern Califonria :).

lorlie6 6 years ago from Bishop, Ca

Hi SweetiePie-I was in La Crescenta last weekend for a funeral, and I'd forgotten how beautiful it is. Thanks so much for this hub!

SweetiePie 6 years ago from Southern California, USA Author

Lorlie6,

I am sorry you had to go to a funeral, but glad you were able to go to Southern California.

MyMastiffPuppies 6 years ago

Beautiful pictures! I love hiking and this looks like a really cool place for it. What are the temps like?

earnestshub 6 years ago from Melbourne Australia

Another great hiking hub. Beautiful scenery, just beautiful!

Thanks SweetiePie, fabulous photos.

SweetiePie 6 years ago from Southern California, USA Author

Thanks for the nice comments MyMastiffPuppies and Earnest!

K9keystrokes 6 years ago from Northern, California

Southern Cali! Nothing offers more beauty and grace. your snapshots are wonderful and your niece and hephew are as cute as can be! Thank you for sharing your hike and lovely pictures.

Up and Awesome!

K9

SweetiePie 6 years ago from Southern California, USA Author

Thank you keystrokes!

marisuewrites 6 years ago from USA

What an album, I felt like I was there. The sky pictures really grabbed me, and the rocky areas looked amazing!

SweetiePie 6 years ago from Southern California, USA Author

Hi Marisue,

I always love hearing from you! I am glad you enjoyed the sky and rock pictures, and thank you!

stephhicks68 6 years ago from Bend, Oregon

Nice photographs - I love SoCal, about 8 hours north. :)

SweetiePie 6 years ago from Southern California, USA Author

Yes Oregon is beautiful too Steph :).

Judicastro 6 years ago from birmingham, Alabama

Hi SweetiePie

I too am a native of S.Cal. Grew up in the Los Angeles basin, went to Hollywood High when it as a good place to attend school. I'm happy that you still find this state a lovely place to live. The pics were great. I have lived literally all over California and I think my favorite area is an area just north of Sacramento around Camino. Apple hill and gold country are wonderful. I recently was "home" (I have been away over 10 years) visiting family and I did not see the sun once and I was from Santa Barbara to San Diego- you know how stubborn that marine layer can be. I am happy to be living elsewhere now, I don't miss the traffic, the angry drivers and the crowds. Growing up in the 60's Calif. was paradise, but not so for me anymore.

SweetiePie 6 years ago from Southern California, USA Author

Thanks for sharing your experiences Judi!

poetryman6969 21 months ago

Love the beautiful photos. Voted up. In enjoy the images of fog and the colors of the sunset. Some of the photos make it rather clear that some of California is a desert and water problems are to be expected.

SweetiePie 21 months ago from Southern California, USA Author

Yes, California has become very dry over the years due to our droughts. Also, even our deserts need rain, and without these the precious ecosystems are in jeopardy. We got far too little rain this year.